Reuters: Keystone XL Pipeline: State Department Expected To Announce Pursuit Of New Route

[flpoljunkie]

Keystone XL Pipeline: State Department Expected To Announce Pursuit Of New Route

WASHINGTON (Reuters/November 10) - The Obama administration plans to announce on Thursday it will explore a new route for a Canada-to-Texas oil pipeline, delaying a final approval beyond the 2012 U.S. election, sources briefed on the matter said.

The decision would be a victory for environmentalists, many of whom oppose the pipeline, and a setback for TransCanada Corp, whose $7 billion Keystone XL project is seen as the most important North American oil pipeline plan for decades.

One source familiar with the matter said that studying a new route for the pipeline would likely take 12-18 months, putting a final decision after President Barack Obama's bid for re-election on November 6, 2012.

If the administration explores a new route, "it's a huge victory, and it would probably be the biggest environmental gift that President Barack Obama has given us," said Tony Iallonardo, a spokesman at the National Wildlife Federation.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/10/keystone-xl-pipeline-state-department_n_1086319.html

[msongs]

1. in absence of leadership and commitment, put it off until too much of it is already a done deal nt

[AtomicKitten]

2. The GOP accused HClinton of personally choosing the route.

http://journalstar.com/news/local/article_4d9f38c8-8006-5a4a-8362-e83337494e1d.html

[okieinpain]

3. that would be sweet if he could do that. n/t.

[alp227]

4. I got an email just now from CREDO Action regarding this

"This is huge. The decision is not the same as rejecting the pipeline. But it is a major delay. And it is also an explicit recognition of the inadequacy of the State Department's initial review process. And it is proof that the petitions, phone calls, letters, rallies, and yes, 1,252 arrests, made an enormous impact on this decision.:

petition at http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/keystone_delay/